First Indian to circumnavigate globe gives credit to boat

Naval officer Dilip Donde, who became the first Indian ever to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sail boat, on Sunday said foreigners did not believe that he was the first citizen from the country to take up this task.

"When I reached various ports in foreign countries during my solo sailing, many people had asked me how many sailors from India had earlier done such individual sailing. I told them that I am the first one from India who is doing this. They did not believe it," Donde said while sharing his experiences soon after returning from his 276-day voyage.

"They expressed surprise about how a country that has millions of people could not find one person for such a task," said Donde on board INS Mysore.

The 42-year-old naval officer steered into the Mumbai harbour on Saturday and was received by Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma and his family members.

The Mumbai harbour wore a festive look with colourful sails fluttering from different types of sail boats as sailing vessel Mhadei sailed by Donde, who embarked on the voyage on August 19 last year, touched base back in India at the Sunk rock Light House.

Giving the entire credit to Mhadei, Donde said with a smile, "I could not have done it without this fine boat. I was quite convinced that anybody can do circumnavigation in a boat like this. I think the entire credit goes to Mhadei which made my voyage successful and my dreams come true."

"I may go for another attempt," Donde said, adding that the task could not have been complete without the support of his family and the Navy.

Recounting the difficulties he faced during sailing, Donde said, "Once the steering of the boat had given me some trouble. Sometimes, the sea remained rough. Many a time, the temperature inside the boat refused to come down below 32 degrees Celsius at any time."

"It gave me a big kick," said the officer, who covered 21,600 nautical miles to achieve the milestone. He has not passed through any canals or straits where the use of engines/towing would be unavoidable and he along with his boat has halted at ports in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Donde, a National Defence Academy alumnus and a trained clearance diver in the Navy, received training from legendary Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop round the world in 1968-69.

The world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation was set in January 2008 by a Frenchman Francis Joyon, who circled the world in 67 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds.